This Week's New Movies: "Limitless," "Paul" & "The Lincoln Lawyer"

Published at 8:49 AM EDT on Mar 18, 2011 | Updated at 2:48 PM EDT on May 30, 2012

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A modern-day Faust, a squirrely defense attorney, a stoner alien, a lawyer/wrestling coach... there are too many new movies this week to mention, but everybody should be able to find something to watch.

LimitlessBradley Cooper stars as a struggling writer who gets introduced to a wonder drug that allows him to tap into 100% of his brain's capacity, but once darker forces realize his gift, he becomes a marked man. Co-star Robert De Niro and Abby Cornish. In theaters everywhere, read our review and watch the trailer

The Lincoln LawyerMatthew McConaughey is a defense attorney who conducts a great deal of his business from the backseat of a Lincoln town car driven by a former client paying off his debt. He takes on a wealthy client who appears to have been set up, only to realize that he may be defending a man guilty of murder. Co-starring Ryan Phillippe and Marisa Tomei. In theaters everywhere, watch the trailer

Paul
Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are a pair of geeks road-tripping across America who come upon an honest to God alien (voiced by Seth Rogen), and vow to help escape the government agents who want to dissect him. In theaters everywhere, read our review and watch the trailer

"Win Win"

Paul Giamatti stars as a struggling lawyer moonlighting as a high school wrestling coach who takes advantage of an elderly client. Things get complicated when the man's grandson, a champion wrestler shows up out of the blue. Co-stars Any Ryan and Bobby Cannavale, opens March 18.

(Published Thursday, March 17, 2011)

Alabama Moon
When a man raising his son in the woods of Alabama dies, the boy is taken in by the cops and thrown into a reform school. But the kid masterminds an escape and convinces his new friends they should go to Alaska to live off the grid. Stars John Goodman. In limited release, watch the trailer
Bill Cunningham New York (on Wed.)
A documentary about the legendary New York Times photographer, who's been capturing the city's evolving fashions for decades. In limited release, watch the trailer

The Butcher, the Chef and the Swordsman
An action-comedy out of Hong Kong telling three stories: about a butcher out for vengeance against the swordsman who stole his wife; about a chef preparing an eight-course meal; and about warrior who melts down a bunch of championship swords to make the ultimate weapon, one that doesn't quite work as planned. In limited release

Cracks
The directorial debut from photographer Jordan Scott, daughter of Ridley. Set in the 1830s, it tells the story of a diving coach at an English boarding school for girls, and the triangle of obsession that develops between her, the team's captain and and new girl from Spain. In limited release, read our review and watch the trailer

Here's the U.S. Trailer for "Paul"

Here's the U.S. trailer for the new road comedy starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as a pair of sci-fi nerds touring America's great UFO hot spots, when they encounter a real live alien, Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen), outside Area 51, and must help him escape the U.S. government. "Paul" opens March 18.

(Published Wednesday, May 30, 2012)

Desert Flower
Based on the autobiography of Waris Dirie, who fled war-torn Somalia to work in a fast food restaurant in London, where she was discovered by a fashion photographer who helped make her a supermodel. In limited release, watch the trailer

The Music Never Stopped
Based on Oliver Sacks' essay "The Last Hippy," about a father, JK Simmons, and son, Lou Taylor Pucci, who reconnect thanks to the rock music of the 1960s. Julia Ormond co-stars as the music therapist who helps bring them together. In limited release, watch the trailer

Win Win
Paul Giamatti is a lawyer who moonlights as a high school wrestling coach. Strapped for cash, he takes advantage of an elderly client, a move that backfires when the man's estranged grandson shows up, looking for a place to live. Co-stars Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale and Jeffrey Tambor. In limited release, read our review and watch the trailer

"Limitless"

Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro star in a paranoia-fueled thriller about a failing writer whose life is transformed by a top-secret drug that allows him to use 100% of his brain. His enhanced abilities soon attract shadowy forces that threaten his new life.

(Published Monday, Feb. 28, 2011)

Winter in Wartime
A teenage boy helps a wounded British paratrooper caught behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied Holland. In Dutch with English subtitles. In limited release, watch the trailer